Harvey Danger, Carrie Akre, & Acetylene
Sit and Spin
Sat. 3/4/2000
Live Review by Rich Evans

What I expected when I entered the cozy band room at Sit and Spin and what I got couldn't be further apart. Tonight's show featured two noted Seattle artists in a state of transition. Both Harvey Danger and Carrie Akre seemed determined to shrug off their past glories and stake out a new, moodier direction.

Acetylene started things off with their brand of wistful, melodic balladry. The female-fronted three piece's sound ranged from the mid tempo guitar pop of set opener "Evangeline" to moody waltzes laced with quirky dynamics and airy vocal harmonies.

Harvey Danger appeared bent on making everyone forget they ever wanted to "publish zines and rage against machines." The expanded 6 piece lineup seemed content to set a somber mood and stick with it. This show clearly wasn't about trotting out the hits (no "Flagpole Sitta" or "Private Helicopter".) Instead, their dirge-heavy set was thick with new material and extremely obscure covers.The acerbic, witty lyricism and clever melodic sensibility of singer Sean Nelson was still intact though, as he spat out pithy phrases like "I was the typo - you were the Liquid Paper." But the musical energy level didn't pick up until their second to last song, "Show Me A Hero," an uptempo pop confection that smoked the rest of their set.

Carrie Akre (pronounced AH - kree) could sing the day's listings in TV Guide and I'd listen. That's about all she hasn't sang recently. The past year has seen her stunning voice grace the final Goodness CD, a track on the latest Smithereens album, an electronic project with head Smithereen Pat DiNizio (the VIPs), and the rather Goodness sounding Rockfords with Pearl Jammer Mike McCready. Carrie's solo project is quite a radical departure from the hard rock she's become known for with Hammerbox and Goodness. Her new sound veered more towards the spare and sensual. Though the band at times seemed tentative and under-rehearsed, Carrie mesmerized the crowd with her sultry voice that conveys a simmering passion, about to boil. From the cool mid tempo semi-ballad "For Kaia," through the torchy "Gray," Carrie and the band seemed content to let their sleeping rock dog lie. They woke him up with their last song, a straight up rocker called "Home is Where My Heart Lies," my favorite song of the evening. It'll be interesting to see how this project develops with a few more shows and the upcoming CD under its belt.

One final note on the show: In my many years of seeing live bands all over the country I have never seen a venue with such a consistently amazing sound mix as Sit and Spin. I've seen tons of shows there and not once has the sound sucked. Every instrument can always be easily heard, the vocals are up front in the mix and intelligible, and the overall volume is never overbearing. Whoever this person (or persons) may be, their stellar efforts should be noted.

Also at Pandomag.com

Stephanie Pure reviews Harvey Danger, Sanford Arms and Acetylene live at the OK Hotel March 3, 2000

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